PSC 1001 Early Quiz #2

Communism

Political economic system where all wealth and property are shared so as to eliminate exploitation, oppression, and, eventually, the state

Utopia

Ideal society where people do not experience the distressing aspects associated w/ contemporary societies

Social Democracy (Democratic Socialism)

Acceptance of state's permanence, renouncement of communism's goal of stateless society (people can still achieve wealth but those w/ wealth don't control politics)

Sir Thomas Moore

English humanist, wrote "Utopia," states no private property=no inequality and advocates for justice sys that deters crime (not capital punishment)

Social Contract

Thomas Hobbes (people will live in peace), John Locke (natural rights enforced by gov and created by consent), Rousseau (life is fair if we follow general will & put personal differences aside)

Proletariat

Working class

Bourgeoise

Property-owning class; eventually, people will revolt against them

Base

System of economic production, including technology (means of production) and class relations (relations of production)

Superstructure

All noneconomic institutions in a society, derive from base and serve to legitimize the current system of exploitation

Dialectical Materialism

Process of historical change that is revolutionary; existing base and superstructure will come into contact w/ technological innovation, culminating in revolution

Vanguard of Proletariat

Lenin's argument that an elitist communist party would have to carry out communist rev. on behalf of the people b/c they may lack consciousness; small group

Nomenklatura

Politically sensitive/influential jobs in state/society/economy staffed by people chosen by communist party

Party-State

Party resembles state, divided into cells, power flows directly from ruling party to state

Central Planning

State explicitly allocates resources by planning what should be produced and in what amounts (gov replaces markets)

Politiburo

The executive committee and chief policy making body of a communist party (like a cabinet)

Societal Institutuions

Want ABSOLUTE equality---eliminate religion and nationalism, encourage women to work (didn't really work because these ideals are ingrained into society)

Transformation of Political Institutions

Hard to construct democratic institutions in post-authoritarian society; must strengthen rule of law and legitimize gov

Transformation of Economic Institutions

Must put economy back in private hands---must assess value of industries and determine who gets what

Gradualization

Slow shift to privatization in fear of inflation

Shock Therapy

Rapid shift to market economy

Post-Communist Outcomes

Many post-Communist central European countries have made democratic strides because of 1) history of greater development 2) civil society and strong anti-communist movements 3) contact with Western Europe

Popular ideologies

Center-left and center-right losing favor; true centrists or extremists becoming more popular

Liberal Democracy

Emphasizes freedom and rule by the people; protection of individual rights (dem. is who rules, liberalism is how/describes limit to that power)

Illiberal Democracy

Has democratic features without committing to them

Orban (Hungarian President)

Equates liberalism with the west (multi-culturalism, LGBTQ+ rights, pro immigration) and therefore rejects it; wants "Christian Democracy" instead of liberal democracy (rejects western ideals)

Three Thinkers

1) Legutko (liberalism is too much like communism; attacks classical liberal thinkers) 2) Daneen also doesn't like liberalism (American) 3) Hazony wants nationalism over liberalism

Revolution of 1905

Protests from working class; Nicholas II instituted reforms (e.g. creation of Duma) but WWI led to the collapse of legitimacy

Revolution of 1917

Coup by small, disciplined force; Overthrew monarchy and instated communist government led by Lenin, society was productive but couldn't adapt

Glasnost

Gorbachev's policy of "openness," also known as political liberalization

Perestroika

Gorbachev's policy of "restructuring," or institutionally reforming the economy and politics

Reason for Soviet Collapse

Big middle class growing increasingly dismayed with the lack of development and economic growth; Gorbachev's policies; nationalism amongst republics; failed coup against Gorbachev

Constitution

Born in violence, emphasized presidential power

Executive/Kremlin Branch

Semi-presidential/mixed system with president (head of state) and prime minister (head of government)

President

Serves six year terms and cannot serve more than 2 consecutive terms, chooses P.M + cabinet, can veto bills and issue decrees (laws that don't need legislature's approval), controls Power Ministries (KGB, police, military)

Prime Minister

Supervises ministries not controlled by president and introduces policy following president's goals; does NOT need to reflect majority party in legislature

Protocol for Dissolution of Legislature

If Duma rejects nominees for cabinet/P.M. 3x, it is dissolved; dissolution cannot occur in the year following elections nor last 6 months of a term

Legislature (Federal Assembly)

Has Duma (lower house) and Federation Council (upper house)

Duma

Has 450 members that serve 5 year terms, 1/2 chosen through party lists (PR) and 1/2 directly elected (SMD), can issue a vote of no confidence (can be ignored by pres. unless it happens 2x in 3 months); theoretically drafts legislation

Federation Council

Has 170 members drawn from all 89 regions (2 from each region, one appointed by governor and one appointed by local legislature); must approve tax bills, can veto Duma but can be vetoed w/ 2/3 majority

Judiciary

Constitutional Court has 19 members nominated by president and approved by federal council; has concrete and abstract review, ONLY rules on constitutional matters

Electoral System

President nominated by party in Duma; independents must receive 300k signatures in support of candidacy; if no one wins, run off ensues

Local Government

~80 regional bodies: 21 republics (non-Russian ethnic groups, have own constitution), 46 provinces, 9 territories, 4 autonomous districts, and 2 federal cities (Moscow and St. Petersburg); asymmetric federalism (each republic has specific laws negotiated w/ fed. government); each district has head appointed by president (local authority threat to pres. power)

Political Parties

United Russia Party (loyalty to Putin and Conservatism, biggest); Communist Party of Russian Federation (anti-West and return to Stalinism, lowkey flopping); A Just Russia (social democratic and emphasizes equality); Liberal Democratic Party (very nationalist); Yabloko (pro-West, liberalism)

Society

Civil society heavily restricted, relatively homogeneous (80% Russian) BUT has conflicts w/ Caucas region and Muslims

Political Economy

Underwent shock therapy (rapid dismantling of central planning post-USSR), privatization of land (led to oligarchy), Putin nationalized many industries and gave control to his friends (siloviki); GDP heavily dependent on oil and gas

Current Issues

Want control over central Asia (fight w/ U.K, U.S., and China); want Eurasian Economic Union (Kazakhstan. Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan); low birth rate and life expectancy

Revolution of 1911

Qing Dynasty fell and China declared itself a republic but fell under the control of regional warlords --> May 4th Movement (nationalist revolts rejecting foreign interference and calling for modernization, led by KMT party)

Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

Formed in 1921 and led by Mao--believed that revolution could be led by peasants (not urban proletariat), gained public support through guerilla warfare rather than small group of urban intellectuals

Great Leap Forward (1958-60)

Rejected centralized planning and instead reorganized Chinese peoples into communes meant to serve different social and economic purposes--> lack of organization led to lack of progress

Mao's Cultural Revolution (1966-76)

Wanted to eliminate reform (feared China was becoming capitalist), destroy old ideas, and mobilize youth -- put Red Guards into place, weakened all institutions

Anti-Authoritarian Measures (post-Mao)

1) Collective leadership (decision making responsibility shared) 2) New party members recruited on merit, not ideological purity 3) Devolving more authority to local leaders 4) Requiring officials to retire after a certain age

Party-State

A political system in which power flows directly from the ruling political party to the state, bypassing government structures (uses nomenklatura system)

Danwei (Work Unit) System

Gave urban citizens lifetime affiliation w/ specific industry, dictating all aspects of their lives

Hukou System

Tied everyone to a specific geographic region

Constitution

Has checks and balances but not followed; leaders find informal ways to rule and circumvent constitutional limits, rule of law not practiced (rule BY law, not of law)

Communist Party Organs

National Party Congress (nominating conventions) --> elects Central Committee (members being groomed for top leadership) --> elects Politburo --> 7 members of Politburo serve on Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) and are top leaders; also has bureaucratic-ish functions (Central Military Commission, Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Leading Small Groups)

Executive Branch

President of PRC (head of state) and State Council (cabinet) which has a leader (called the Premier) who serves as the head of government and is typically the 2nd/3rd ranked member of the PSC

Legislature (National People's Congress)

Unicameral, has about 3,000 members, elections held every 5 years (allegedly); delegates convene annually for ~2 weeks to elect standing committee of 150 members (functions as legislative assembly, meets every 2 months); appoints state council

Judiciary

No real judicial system; subservient to party, no rule of law, heavy capital punishment

Local Government

Devolution has been occurring but introduces more opportunities for corruption; no authority to tax + not given $ from other avenues, have to seize land from constituents (sell property and build factories there)

People's Liberation Army

Chinese Communist army; administered much of country under People's Republic of China (VERY important in society)

Party System

CCP membership is sought after and selective; membership has expanded from just workers; Three Represents includes entrepreneurs (state-sponsored capitalism?) --> problem of succession (Xi JinPing removed presidential term limits)

Government Operated Non-Governmental Organizations (GONGOS)

Gov created civil society orgs (e.g. Communist Youth League); other orgs have developed because citizens need more services however, they have been crushed (b/c they advocate for rights)

Mechanisms of Control

1) Co-Optation (CCP allows some private capitalists, called Red Capitalists; state sponsored middle class) 2) Censorship (social media control) 3) Surveillance (monitoring behaviors, Social Credit System assigns score to each person based on their actions)

Political Economy

Mao promised "iron rice bowl" (lifetime employment and healthcare) but flopped; new focus on economic growth (socialist market economy---shift to semi-capitalism), state owned companies very important and get special privileges

Current Issues

Tibetans and Uyghurs in XinJiang, Belt and Road Initiative (want to "reconstruct" silk road through infrastructure throughout Asia--> traps host countries in debt)

Non-Democratic Regime

Political regime controlled by a small group without constitutional responsibility to the public

Totalitarianism

Non-democratic regime that is highly centralized, possessing some form of strong ideology that seeks to transform and absorb fundamental aspects of state and society -> BREAK DOWN existing institutions

Authoritarianism

Political system in which a small group of individuals exercises power over the state w/o being responsible to the public --> must be responsible in PRACTICE, not just in theory (NO STRUCTURE)

Barriers to Democratization

1) Lack of a middle class 2) Disruptive force like modernization 3) Lack of commitment to equality by elites

Illberalism

Democracy starts to go backwards

Features of non-democracy

1) Populism focused on hostility towards elites 2) Culture wars 3) Coercion and surveillance 4) Personality cults 5) Corporatism 6) Clientelism 7) Rent-seeking 8) Kleptocracy 9) One party rule 10) Theocracy

Resource Curse

Existence of natural resources is barrier to modernization and democracy; elites don't need to tax so they don't feel responsible to the public

Methods of Control

Surveillance and coercion (e.g. secret police coerces people into not dissenting) --> not as stable

Co-Optation

Process by which individuals outside organizations are brought into beneficial relationships with them, making them dependent on the regime --> has public support, more stable; 3 methods

Corporatism

Type of co-optation wherein regimes create a limited # of organizations to represent the public and restrict those not under state control

Clientelism

Less structured, state co-opts members of public by providing specific benefits/favors to them in return for public support

Patrimonialism

Ruler depends on collection of supporters who get benefits for enforcing their will (more organized clientelism)

Rent-Seeking

Political leaders use part of state to garner income for their supporters, giving them preferred access to public goods (bad b/c you can run out of resources to give people)

Kleptocracy

When those in power seek only to drain state's assets + resources

Personality Cult

Promotion of leader not merely as a political figure, but also as a quasi-religious individual

Methods of Non-Democratic Rule

1) Personal and monarchial rule 2) Military rule 3) One-party rule 4) Theocracy 5) Illiberal Regime

Personal and Monarchial Rule

Draw on charismatic and traditional legitimacy to say that one person alone is fit to run the country, state/society is possession of leader; often relies on patrimonialism (agreement between supporters and monarch where they get benefits for enforcing ruler)

Military Rule

When society is unstable, military directly intervenes in politics because it is the only organized part of society; bureaucratic authoritarianism is idea that leadership should be focused on rationality and objectivity (removes emotions of parties and the public)

Brazil v. Nigeria

Brazil's military dictatorship was more organized and actually developed economically; Nigeria was patrimonial and didn't really develop

One Party Rule

Single party monopolizes politics and typically only includes small minority of population; divided into "cells" to keep tabs on everyone, members typically given benefits

Theocracy

Faith is sole aspect of regime's authority; fusion of God and state

Illiberal Regimes

Features many aspects of democracy BUT not really... (rule of law may be in place but is weak, meaning democratic institutions aren't institutionalized; checks and balances happen in theory, but don't) --> THEORETICALLY a democracy